The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed various changes to import controls about food of non-animal origin.
The 14 changes are for Salmonella, Pesticide Residues and Aflatoxins in products from countries such as Brazil, China, Turkey and India. Official checks include documentary, identity and physical studies such as sampling.
The assessment followed on a risk analysis process created by FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS). Imported food and food of non-animal origin from specific countries were identified for assessment based on intelligence. These raw materials were assessed on the basis of the risks for human health.
A commentary period in England, Wales and Scotland is Open until April 9. After this period, recommendations are made to ministers who have the final decision. What they agree with it will be required by legislation that should be in force in early 2026.
Proposed changes
At the end of December 2024, an earlier assessment came into effect. Nuts and peanut butter from the United States will still be checked for aflatoxins with a frequency of 10 percent.
Stricter controls on sweet peppers from China for Salmonella will be removed in the proposals.
Jackfruit from Malaysia and Okra from Vietnam will see a reduction in the frequency of identity and physical checks for pesticides of 50 to 20 percent due to improved compliance.
Papaya from Brazil and Dragon Fruit from Thailand will be subject to 10 percent pesticide residues at border control posts, just like earthnuts and peanut butter from Paraguay for aflatoxins.
An increased frequency of identity and physical checks up to 50 percent has been suggested for eggplant of the Dominican Republic and nutmeg, mace and cardiacs from India due to residues of pesticides and the risk to public health.
Okra, drumsticks, seeds of Anijs, Badian, fennel, coriander, cumin or carcons and juniper berries plus ginger, saffron, turmeric leaves, curry, and other herbs from India will require laboratory analysis and checks for pesticides in exporting countries for authorities.
FSA -model described
The FSA said that these raw materials have been subject to monitoring and supervision of border control posts for several years. Information from checks and data from other countries indicates that levels of compliance do not improve.
Another update includes sesame seeds, Tahini and Halva from Nigeria, Syria, Turkey, Ethiopia, India, Sudan and Uganda for Salmonella.
The FSA approach to risk categorization and risk loss imported food of non-animal origin is described in a study published in the Journal of Food Protection.
Combinations were scored using data on product characteristics, hazard characteristics and trade import volumes, with applied weightings. The approach needed to cover microbiological, mycotoxin and chemical dangers, arranged on the same scale.
The presence of dangers assessed the chance of a danger in the food. For the severity of the dangers, categories were negligible, low, average or high. Combinations were categorized on the basis of exposure to consumers to the danger compared to a value that relates to negative health results.
Results of the risk -long screen model are not used in isolated to prioritize combinations for changes in official checks.
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